Animal cruelty arrest made

August 10, 2011

A Big Spring man was arrested Tuesday and charged with cruelty to livestock animals in connection with the July 13 seizure of several horses suffering from malnourishment.

Joel Venegas Estrella, 51, was booked into the Howard County jail on a charge of cruelty to livestock animals just before midnight, following an investigation by the Howard County Sheriff's Office, according to Sheriff Stan Parker.

"He was taken into custody without incident,” Parker said.

Parker said his office received a complaint July 12 while firefighters were battling several blazes in the Crossroads area, including one believed to have begun near the intersection of Kenneth and Jill roads in the Sand Springs area.

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